Gender-related personality traits and interpersonal resource exchange among brother-sister relationships

Brother-sister relationships are understudied within the field of personal relationships. Accordingly, the present study examines patterns of interper sonal resource exchange (drawing upon resource exchange theory; Foa & Foa, 1974), along with influences of gender-related personality traits (i.e., ag ency and communion) on individuals giving of interpersonal resources (i.e., affection and respect), among 79 brother-sister pairs. Consistent with pre dictions, brothers' and sisters' exchanges of both affection and respect we re positive and significant. Also, consistent with predictions, communion w as a positive and significant predictor of respectful behavior among sister s. However, contrary to hypotheses, communion did not achieve or approach s ignificance as a predictor of respectful behavior among brothers, nor did c ommunion achieve or approach significance as a predictor of affectionate be havior among sisters or brothers. Implications for the study of male-female relationships in general-and brother-sister relationships in particular-ar e discussed.